Subject: Spider ID Geographic location of the bug: Llubovane Dam, Eswatini, Southern Africa Date: 02/25/2020 Time: 12:03 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Good day, Please can you ID these two spiders. The large one is beautiful. They were on a dead tree stump in the dam. The large one was walking down the stump under the water and coming back up, perhaps looking for food? How you want your letter signed: Jacqui

Fishing Spider we believe

Dear Jacqui, The behavior you witnessed, “large one was walking down the stump under the water and coming back up, perhaps looking for food?”, and the markings on the carapace are both consistent with Fishing Spiders from the genus Dolomedes found in North America, as evidenced by this BugGuide image. While we have not had any luck locating any similar looking South African members of the genus, according to Wikipedia: “The second largest number of species occur in tropical Africa.” Perhaps one of our readers will be able to identify your gorgeous spider to the species level. We do not know the identity of the smaller Spider in your image. According to Science Direct: “Sierwald (1988) examined predatory behavior of the African pisaurid Nilus curtus O.P.-Cambridge (=Thalassius spinosissimus [Karsch]). Its hunting posture is like that of Dolomedes, anchored by one or more hindlegs to an emergent object with its remaining legs spread on surface of water. When disturbed, the spider pulls itself below the surface of the water by crawling down an emergent object. They can remain submerged for up to 35 min. Prey swimming under water (insects, tadpoles) are grabbed by the front legs pushing down through the surface film. Prey trapped by surface tension were jumped on if close enough, or rowed to if further away.” Members from the genus Nilus pictured on iNaturalist do resemble your individual.

Subject: Id spider please Geographic location of the bug: Panama, western highlands 5400 ft Date: 02/10/2020 Time: 11:26 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Hi – help id this spider who was staying still on the floor of my house in western panama highlands. About 2+ inches as in pic How you want your letter signed: Nancy S

Flattie, NOT Giant Crab Spider

Dear Nancy, This is a harmless Giant Crab Spider in the family Sparassidae. Here is an image from Flickr of a Giant Crab Spider from Panama. We are uncertain of your species. Giant Crab Spiders are nocturnal and they do not spin a web to snare prey. They hunt.

Subject: Hairy Momma? Geographic location of the bug: Oroville, CA (Butte County) Date: 01/28/2020 Time: 06:17 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Found this hairy lurker on the inside of the doorjamb of an old truck in mid January 2020. Weather’s been in the 40-60*F range, with rain. Grabbed a quick photo, but can’t find a plausible ID anywhere….can you help? Thinking this may be a female in the process of establishing an egg sac, perhaps? Gorgeous, but too hairy for most IDs to match. How you want your letter signed: Cole

Golden Huntsman Spider

Dear Cole, This is a Huntsman Spider or Giant Crab Spider in the genus Olios, probably Olios giganteus, a Golden Huntsman Spider. According to Spider ID: “Egg sac is spun inside a large, spherical retreat (about 25mm in diameter) in which the female spider also resides, guarding the sac and the spiderlings that emerge from it.” According to Backyard Nature: “This Southwestern US and Mexican, arid-land, nocturnal species is known to spin silken “retreats” in which it may spend the day, or to complete molting. Also, the female may spin such a retreat to stay in as she guards her egg sac and the spiderlings who emerge from the sac.” This species is also represented on BugGuide.

Ah HA! Thank you so much!! I love love love you folks, and am so grateful for what you do. Your site is a phenomenal resource!! HUGS!

Subject: Blue jumping spider? Geographic location of the bug: Topeka KS Date: 11/18/2019 Time: 05:55 PM EDT Your letter to the bugman: I saw a previous question about a blue jumping spider during my search. This little guy was at the storage units my mom works at. No altering to the photo at all. Not a hoax. I couldnt find much online about blue spiders. Coolest little spider I’ve seen. I think it’s a jumping spider? How you want your letter signed: Brandy

Jumping Spider

Dear Brandy, This is definitely a Jumping Spider in the family Salticidae, and it does appear to be quite bluish, but we cannot provide you with a species name.

Subject: Green Lynx Spider eats Budworm Geographic location of the bug: Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, CA Date: 10/23/2019 Time: 07:15 AM EDT Your letter to the bugman: Dear Bugman, Exactly one month ago, I sent in images of a Green Lynx Spider that laid an egg sac on one of my medical marijuana plants, and this morning I noticed her eating a Budworm, and her brood has hatched. I thought they would hatch in the spring. What gives? How you want your letter signed: Constant Gardener

Green Lynx Spider eats a Budworm while guarding brood.

Dear Constant Gardener, Thanks for keeping our readership up to date on the mundane dramas in your garden. Daniel has always thought that the eggs of Green Lynx Spiders would hatch in the spring. Lower beasts are much more attuned to their environments than are most humans, and perhaps global warming is affecting the hatching cycle of Green Lynx Spiders. According to the Orlando Sentinel: “A green lynx spider’s egg sac is much easier to spot than the spider itself. The sac is a slightly bumpy, sand-colored container housing up to 600 bright orange eggs that will hatch within 11 to 16 days. The sac is about an inch diameter with one flat side and one rounded. After its construction is complete, the female spider surrounds the sac with a sketchy tent of randomly woven silky threads. She then protects it further by clutching it with her legs as she hangs upside down.”